Pizza Cup away at Exeter City Tues 08.12

[606 Parklands_Cobbler]

I'm always annoyed by the lack of respect this tournament gets. That somewhat comes from the top with the introduction of the under-21 teams and while we have to fight that, there is still value for us.
On the Exeter forum, someone posted that they pocketed around £160k for their run to the area final, while last night we apparently received £20,000 for the win - the prize money being increased this year.
Money is not the only thing, since 1897 we have won 7 competitions, if you count the Northamptonshire League in 1899 (why wouldn't we) and two play-off wins. We have never ever won a Cup - and yet we dismiss the only one we can realistically win! The thing with history, something that we regularly show pride in (reached the first division and never been non-league etc), is that it brings a culture of winning to the club. Why not try and add to the trophy cabinet and create a club culture of winning. Looking back at history, clubs regularly punching above their weight at times - Bournemouth, Wigan Athletic x 2, Tranmere Rovers, Rotherham United, Grimsby Town, Luton Town, Crewe Alexandra, Lincoln City and dare I say it, Peterborough - have all won the trophy.
People always say we should 'concentrate on the league', and while it could have a detriment to it, every time we have been relegated we have never got past the second round. Conversely in recent years, the last 8 times we have reached the area quarter-finals, we have reached the play-offs 5 times and safely in midtable the other 3. Therefore it seems to have more importance on a 'winning culture' than the odd line that is spouted when we play in the tournament. It is also usually played in the months before christmas, around the time that if we are to have a good season, sees us gain momentum after our traditional slow start (a club hangover from starting with numerous away games due to the cricket ground).

All this is a long winded way of saying lets actually make it a focus of our season in future years, possibly having a settled strong cup team that includes some of our top players.

Oh, the draw for the next round is tomorrow morning...I'll eagily be anticipating the next round.

[west stand oap]

Portsmouth, Peterborough, AFC Wimbledon, MK, Oxford , Bristol Rovers and Cambridge also through in the southern group, probably best to avoid the first 2 of these.

[Carton Lid]

Cambridge at home please.

[west stand oap]

If you want Cambridge it may be better to be drawn away as in 41 games between us only 8 have resulted in home wins. We have 5 home wins from 20 games and Cambridge only 3 home wins from 21 games.

[Coolcat]

Devon Live: Exeter City investigation launched after 'discriminatory comment' aimed at player.
https://www.devonlive.com/sport/football/football-news/exeter-city-investigation-launched-after-4781105

[GrangeParkCobbler]

I'm always annoyed by the lack of respect this tournament gets. That somewhat comes from the top with the introduction of the under-21 teams and while we have to fight that, there is still value for us.
On the Exeter forum, someone posted that they pocketed around £160k for their run to the area final, while last night we apparently received £20,000 for the win - the prize money being increased this year.
Money is not the only thing, since 1897 we have won 7 competitions, if you count the Northamptonshire League in 1899 (why wouldn't we) and two play-off wins. We have never ever won a Cup - and yet we dismiss the only one we can realistically win! The thing with history, something that we regularly show pride in (reached the first division and never been non-league etc), is that it brings a culture of winning to the club. Why not try and add to the trophy cabinet and create a club culture of winning. Looking back at history, clubs regularly punching above their weight at times - Bournemouth, Wigan Athletic x 2, Tranmere Rovers, Rotherham United, Grimsby Town, Luton Town, Crewe Alexandra, Lincoln City and dare I say it, Peterborough - have all won the trophy.
People always say we should 'concentrate on the league', and while it could have a detriment to it, every time we have been relegated we have never got past the second round. Conversely in recent years, the last 8 times we have reached the area quarter-finals, we have reached the play-offs 5 times and safely in midtable the other 3. Therefore it seems to have more importance on a 'winning culture' than the odd line that is spouted when we play in the tournament. It is also usually played in the months before christmas, around the time that if we are to have a good season, sees us gain momentum after our traditional slow start (a club hangover from starting with numerous away games due to the cricket ground).

All this is a long winded way of saying lets actually make it a focus of our season in future years, possibly having a settled strong cup team that includes some of our top players.

Oh, the draw for the next round is tomorrow morning...I'll eagily be anticipating the next round.

Excellent post! I've always had a bit of a soft spot for this competition....perhaps because unlike the League and FA cup we actually stand a chance of winning it! We have never been successful though, i'd hazard a guess that we are one of the least successful teams to participate, seeing as we've been in it from the start, every single season. Some of the clubs mentioned above have played in the Prem and Championship, some have spent time in the non-leagues, us....we've always been there, and not so much as an area final to our name, let alone the showpiece final itself.

As for the money, well you get £20k just for participating, then £10k for a group stage win and £5k for a group stage draw..... so with the £20k last night we have banked £55k already. Not to be sniffed at in these times is it? £40k on offer to the winners of the next round....... games to be played 12/13th January which will fall after our postponed trip to Blackpool, so at least the squad should be fresh.

[west stand oap]

As the Blackpool game is cancelled on January 9th why not try to pull forward our trip to Fleetwood from Tuesday 26th or alternatively or home game against Rochdale from a Tuesday night in February. I think both of these teams are out of the cup and neither are playing on 9th January presumably because their designated opponents are still in the cup.

[Dan]

Excellent post! I've always had a bit of a soft spot for this competition....perhaps because unlike the League and FA cup we actually stand a chance of winning it! We have never been successful though, i'd hazard a guess that we are one of the least successful teams to participate, seeing as we've been in it from the start, every single season. Some of the clubs mentioned above have played in the Prem and Championship, some have spent time in the non-leagues, us....we've always been there, and not so much as an area final to our name, let alone the showpiece final itself.

As for the money, well you get £20k just for participating, then £10k for a group stage win and £5k for a group stage draw..... so with the £20k last night we have banked £55k already. Not to be sniffed at in these times is it? £40k on offer to the winners of the next round....... games to be played 12/13th January which will fall after our postponed trip to Blackpool, so at least the squad should be fresh.

Myself and many mates have also always had a real soft spot for this tournament for the exact reason you've said, a realistic chance to win a trophy.

However, ever since the introduction of the kids teams, none of us have attended nor streamed one game and that won't change unless they are ever dropped out of it.

Even if we weren't allowed to go to any away game this season, and Town made it to Wembley and fans could attend, we wouldn't go. Will always respect those who keep going as each to their own, but my stance won't change on this tournament.